Warp knit foot covering

ABSTRACT

A continuous connected series of warp knit foot coverings formed of an endless length of relatively narrow warp knit fabric of wales and courses having relatively short alternate sections of single wall construction knit in continuation of relatively long intervening sections of double wall construction, the double wall fabric section being U-shaped in coursewise cross-section, the single wall fabric sections being adapted to be coursewise severed midway of their walewise length thereby to produce fully formed individual foot coverings of each of the double wall fabric sections and of the severed portions of the single wall fabric sections adjacent thereto. The walewise extending edges of the double wall fabric sections are selvaged and a plurality of walewise extending elastic yarns are incorporated in each wall of the double wall fabric sections adjacent to the edges thereof, the elastic yarns also being incorporated in the single wall fabric sections.

Ilnited States atent 1 Engelhard WARP KNIT FOOT COVERING [75] Inventor:Otto Engelhard, Forest Hill, NY.

[731 Assignees: Mark Tarnoft; Fleurette Tarnoft,

Erdenheim, Pa.

[22] Filed: June 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 148,593

z a: at? we 51 May 22, 1973 1,175,061 3/1959 France ..66/170 PrimaryExaminer-Ronald Feldbaum AttorneyNathan Levin [57] ABSTRACT A continuousconnected series of warp knit foot coverings formed of an endless lengthof relatively narrow warp knit fabric of wales and courses havingrelatively short alternate sections of single wall construction knit incontinuation of relatively long intervening sections of double wallconstruction, the double wall fabric section being U-shaped incoursewise cross-section, the single wall fabric sections being adaptedto be coursewise severed midway of their walewise length thereby toproduce fully formed individual foot coverings of each of the doublewall fabric sections and of the severed portions of the single wallfabric sections adjacent thereto. The walewise extending edges of thedouble wall fabric sections are selvaged and a plurality of walewiseextending elastic yarns are incorporated in each wall of the double wallfabric sections adjacent to the edges thereof, the elastic yarns alsobeing incorporated in the single wall fabric sections.

5 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures Patented May 22, 1973 3 Sheets-811mm. 1

I'NVENTOR OTTO ENGELHARD B) Nolanw [MM Fiql.

A TTORNE Y Patented May 22, 1973 3,733,860

3 Shots-Sheet 2 INVENTOR OTTO EA/GELHAIQD BY Malay/w fin/w A TTORNEY 1WARP KNIT FOOT COVERING The present invention relates generally to theart of knitting and more particularly to warp knit foot coverings of thetype which provide a covering for the toes, the back of the heel, thesole and a portion of the sides of the foot of the wearer of the footcovering.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide warp knitfoot coverings of the type above set forth wherein the foot coveringsare formed as a continuous connected series thereof and wherein fullyformed individual ones of the foot coverings are provided when the footcoverings of the series thereof are separated by severing the connectionbetween adjacent ones of the series of foot coverings.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide severedindividual warp knit foot coverings of the type above set forth whichcomprise a rectangularly shaped first warp knit section of fabric ofwales and courses of which the walewise extending edges are selvaged,wherein the first fabric section if formed in folded over conditionalong central wales during the knitting thereof thereby to provide apair of rectangularly shaped similar smaller second sections of fabric,wherein the end portions of the second fabric sections are coursewisejoined during the knitting thereof, and wherein the terminus of thejoined end sections are severed.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, as will beapparant from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments thereof to be read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the invention resides in the warp knit foot coverings as madein a continuous connected series thereof and in the individual footcoverings formed by severing the connection between adjacent ones of theseries thereof, as set forth in the accompanying specification and inthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a number of the warp knit foot coverings of the presentinvention as they appear in a portion of a continuous connected seriesof the foot coverings with the fabric forming the foot coverings inextended condition,

FIG. 2 shows a single one of the foot coverings of the present inventionas formed by cutting the fabric of FIG. 1 at designated intervals,

FIG. 3 shows the foot covering of FIG. 2 as turned inside out,

FIG. 4 shows the foot covering of the present invention upon the foot ofa wearer thereof,

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing of a section of the fabric as taken alongline A-A of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a schematic showing of the needle bars and thread guide barsof the machine upon which the fabric of FIG. 1 is made,

FIG. 7 is a schematic stitch diagram of a portion of the fabric of afoot covering showing the stitch arrangement used therein and includingelastic yarns incorporated unknit in the fabric curing the knittingthereof,

FIGS. 8 through 13 are notations of the stitches used in the severalportions of the fabric of the foot cover- FIGS. 8A through 13A arenotations of the thread guide bar movements of the machine which areused in the formation of the stitches shown in FIGS. 8 through 13,respectively, and

FIGS. 14 and 15 show modified forms of the present foot covering.

In the present invention the individual foot coverings are made in theform of a continuous connected series thereof. Such a connected seriesof foot coverings is shown in FIG. 1 wherein the fabric forming theconnected series of foot coverings is in the stretched condition itassumes as it extends from the machine knitting the same to the take-upof the machine. Each of the individual connected foot coverings isindicated at 20.

The fabric of the foot coverings is preferably of warp knit constructionand is preferably made upon a two needle bar Raschel machine havingeight yarn guide bars, as schematically shown in FIG. 6. In this machinethe yarn guide bars are numbered I through VIII and the needle bars,which reciprocate alternately, are indicated at B for the back needlebar, and at F, for the front needle bar. The fabric made upon themachine extends from the needles thereof to a conventional take-uproller T upon which the fabric is wound to form a roll R thereof.

At designated intervals the fabric of FIG. 1 is knit in the form of arelatively short transversely extending band of single wall flatconstruction, as indicated at 21 between lines 21a, 21a, while thefabric between bands 21 is knit in the form of a relatively longtransversely extending band of double wall construction, as indicated at22 and 23, and which is U-shaped in crosssection. The spaced walls 22,23 and the single wall 21, which is formed by joining the spaced wallstogether, appears in FIG. 5. The fabric walls 22 and 23, of generallyrectangular configuration, have selvages 22a and 23a, respectively, atthe open sides of their U-shape while at their closed sides the wallsare joined as at 24. The cross-sectional U-shape of the walls 22, 23 isindicated schematically by the dot dash line 25 in FIG. 1.

Adjacent each selvage 22a and 23a, the walls 22, 23 are provided with aplurality of relatively closely spaced walewise extending elastic yarns26 of suitable denier which are incorporated in the fabric during theknitting thereof. The elastic yarns 26 are also incorporated in bands21. While only three elastic yarns are shown in each wall of the footcovering, it will be understood that any desired number and spacingthereof may be used. The elastic yarns 26 are barely visible on theouter non-adjacent sides of the walls 22, 23 of FIG. 1 and are in raisedrib-like condition on the adjacent inner sides of the fabric walls.

The individual foot coverings 20 of the present invention are eachcompletely formed by simply severing the spaced bands of flat fabric 21along the designated coursewise extending lines 21b which are midway ofthe bands 21. Each foot covering is formed of a pocket defined by thewalls 22, 23 which are joined at 24 and at each end by the severedportions of the adjacent bands 21. Each foot covering assumes the curvedshape shown in FIG. 2 due to the contraction of the elastic yarns 26 totheir relaxed condition, these yarns having been tensioned whenincorporated in the fabric. It will be noted that the foot covering issymmetrical about a vertical center line 20a. Since the fabric of band21 is of warp knit construction, the cut ends thereof along lines 21bwill not ravel or run back.

While the foot covering may be worn in its condition of FIG. 2, it mayalso be turned inside out, as in FIG. 3, before it is worn. When turnedinside out the covering presents a neater appearance with the cutportions of bands 21 hidden from view. In the condition of FIG. 3, theelastic ribs 26 are on the outside where they will not be in directcontact with and will consequently not irritate the foot of the wearerof the covering. The cut ends of the bands 21 on the inside of thecovering do not bother the wearer.

While the covering may be knit of any suitable yarn, it is preferredthat stretch yarns be used so that the body of the covering of a singlesize may be suitably stretched to snugly fit over the foot of any wearerthereof. The elastic yarns 26 will cause the selvaged portions of walls22, 23 to cling tightly to the sides of the foot of the wearer. As shownin FIG. 4 this type of foot covering is of such dimensions as to coverthe toes, the lower part of the heel, the bottom and part of the sidesof the foot, whereby the covering is particularly useful when worn bywomen inside of low cut shoes.

The fabric of the foot covering may be of any desired warp knitconstruction and one type thereof is shown in FIG. 7 wherein a series ofindividual yarns 27 are each knit in alternate ones of adjacent wales inalternate courses and wherein a series of individual yarns 28 are eachknit in alternate ones of spaced wales in alternate courses. The fabricof yarns 27, 28 shown in eight wales 29 through 36 of FIG. 7 isrepresentative of the base fabric of the foot covering. The elasticyarns 26 are shown incorporated unknit in wales 30, 31 and 32 of thisbase fabric and this is representative of the incorporation of theelastic yarns in both walls 22, 23 adjacent their selvages 22a, 23a.

The stitch notation of wales 30, 31 and 32 adjacent selvage 22a is shownin FIG. 8 while the notation of the guide bar movements therefor isshown in FIG. 8A. A cycle of the machine comprises a reciprocation ofeach needle bar F and B thereof. It will be seen that yarns 27 and 28 ofthe guide bars II and III are fed to and are knit only on the frontneedle bar F during a first half of each cycle while at the same timeelastic yarns 26 of guide bar I are positioned between the needles ofthe front bar F to be incorporated unknit by the stitches of yarns27,28.

The stitch notation of the remaining portion of wall 22, as representedby wales 33 through 36 of FIG. 7, is shown in FIG. 9 while the guide barnotation therefor is shown in FIG. 9A. It will be seen that this also isknit of yarns 27, 28 from guide bars II, III upon only the front bank ofneedles F during the first half of each cycle and is similar to FIGS. 8and 8A except for the elastic yarns 26.

The stitch arrangement of portion 24 which connects the walls 22, 23 issimilar to that of the walls themselves and appears in FIG. while itsguide bar notation is in FIG. 10A. It will be seen that yarns 27, 27from guide bars VII and VIII are knit on the needles of both front andback bars F and B. This arrangement of FIGS. 10 and 10A results in thestitches of connecting wales 24 being of similar appearance to those ofthe fabric of walls 22, 23.

The fabric of wall 23 is similar to that of wall 22 and its stitchnotation appears in FIG. 11 while its guide bar notation is shown inFIG. 1 1A. It will be seen that yarns 27, 28 from guide bars IV and Vare herein knit only upon the needles of the back needle bar B duringthe second half of each knitting cycle.

The fabric containing elastic yarns 26 adjacent selvage 23a is similarto the fabric adjacent selvage 22a and its stitch diagram appears inFIG. 12 while its guide bar notation is shown in FIG. 12A. It will beseen that this differs only in that the yarns 27, 28 from guide bars IVand V are knit only upon the needles of back needle bar B during thesecond half of each knitting cycle and the elastic yarns 26 are fed fromguide bar VI between needles of the back bar B.

The single wall flat fabric bands 21 are formed as a result of avariation in the movement of guide bar II to vary the feeding of yarns27 and the knitting thereof while the remaining guide bars continue tofeed their yarns for knitting without variation. As appears in FIGS. 13and 13A, the yarns 27 from guide bar II are each fed to and knit upon asingle needle of each of the needle bars B and F in each knitting cycle.Thus, yarns 27 are knit first on the needles of one needle bank, then onthe needles of the other needle bank, and so on, so that the fabricwalls 22, 23 are joined together by consecutive stitches of yarns 27 onneedle banks F and B thereby to form the transversely extending bands ofsingle wall flat fabric areas 21.

It may be noted that severing the bands 21 along lines 21b results incompletely formed individual foot coverings each of which comprises afolded over rectangularly shaped section of warp knit fabric integrallyjoined together along three of its four sides thereby to form a footreceiving pocket therein and which is provided with elastic selvagesalong the edges of its re maining non-joined sides.

The type of warp knit fabric as well as the yarns used in the footcovering may vary as desired. In FIG. 14 a foot covering 201) is shownwherein the upper half of the covering is of openwork net construction37 while the lower half of the covering is of solid fabric 38. The yarnused to make the solid fabric may provide a cushion sole for the footcovering. In FIG. 15 a foot covering 20c is shown wherein approximatelyone half of the covering is of relatively openwork net construction 39,which may be the heel side of the covering, while the other half or toeside of the covering is of solid fabric 40.

I claim:

1. One piece integrally knitted foot cover of warp knit fabric havingwales and courses formed of a plurality of warp yarns and comprising arelatively short first warp knit fabric section of single wallconstruction formed of said plurality of yarns, a relatively long secondwarp knit fabric section of U-shaped double wall construction formed ofsaid plurality of yarns in continuation of said first fabric section,said U-shape extending coursewise and said second fabric section havinga walewise extending opening therein between the opposed sides of theU-shape thereof, and a relatively short third warp knit fabric sectionof single wall construction formed of said plurality of yarns incontinuation of said double wall construction of said second fabricsection, said first and third fabric sections being similar and servingto join together the walls of said second fabric section at the endsthereof thereby to form oppositely disposed walls, ends and a closedbottom of said foot cover, the fabric of said bottom and of saidsidewalls being of continuous and of similar seamless stitch formation,said sidewalls, ends and bottom enclosing a foot receiving pocket insaid foot cover and wherein access to said pocket is provided throughsaid opening between said opposed sidewalls.

2. Foot cover as in claim 1 wherein said sidewalls have additionalwalewise extending yarns integrally inthe foot of the wearer thereof. v4. Foot cover as in claim 2 wherein said additional yarns are alsoincorporated in said first and third fabric sections.

5. Foot cover as in claim 3 wherein said elastic yarns are alsoincorporated in said first and third fabric sections.

1. One piece integrally knitted foot cover of warp knit fabric having wales and courses formed of a plurality of warp yarns and comprising a relatively short first warp knit fabric section of single wall construction formed of said plurality of yarns, a relatively long second warp knit fabric section of U-shaped double wall construction formed of said plurality of yarns in continuation of said first fabric section, said U-shape extending coursewise and said second fabric section having a walewise extending opening therein between the opposed sides of the Ushape thereof, and a relatively short third warp knit fabric section of single wall construction formed of said plurality of yarns in continuation of said double wall construction of said second fabric section, said first and third fabric sections being similar and serving to join together the walls of said second fabric section at the ends thereof thereby to form oppositely disposed walls, ends and a closed bottom of said foot cover, the fabric of said bottom and of said sidewalls being of continuous and of similar seamless stitch formation, said sidewalls, ends and bottom enclosing a foot receiving pocket in said foot cover and wherein access to said pocket is provided through said opening between said opposed sidewalls.
 2. Foot cover as in claim 1 wherein said sidewalls have additional walewise extending yarns integrally incorporated in the fabric thereof along the edges of said opening.
 3. Foot cover as in claim 2 wherein said additional yarns are elastic yarns in relaxed condition, said elastic yarns causing said opening as well as fabric adjacent thereto to be yieldably walewise contracted, and wherein said opening and said adjacent fabric are walewise expandable when said foot cover is placed upon the foot of the wearer tHereof.
 4. Foot cover as in claim 2 wherein said additional yarns are also incorporated in said first and third fabric sections.
 5. Foot cover as in claim 3 wherein said elastic yarns are also incorporated in said first and third fabric sections. 